Dispenser



Sept. 24, 1929. M. o. EMHOFF DISPENSER Fild Dec. 22, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheetl gnveufoz M 0. Email);

p 24, 1929- M. o. EMHOFF DISPENSER 1.928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22

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Patented Sept. 24, 1929 PATENT OFFICE MAURICE 0. EMHOFF, F JERSEF CITY,NEW JERSEY DISPENSER Application filed December 22, 1928. Serial No.327,865.

The present invention relates to dispensterials which are used around adental laboratory, and which will deliver the materials in desiredquantities proportionate to certain mixtures to be made, and inaccordance with' predetermined quantities of fluid, such as water, whichmay be placed in bowls or the like in which the ingredients are to bemixed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser or cabinetwith a hopper adapted to contain dry material in powdered form or thelike adapted to be made into a paste or mix, and to provide the cabinetwith means for holding a bowl or other suitable receptacle in a definitefixed position, and

to further provide dispensing means which is. graduated according to apredetermined index, so that the means may be adjusted for deliveringinto the bowl, a predetermined .quantity of the wdered-material,according to the set in ex.

This object of the invention contemplates the reduction in the amountofmaterial which is wasted when handlin the material in the originalcontainer, an at the same time to provide a dispenser wherein thedefinite desired proportions of the liquid and the granular material orpowder is delivered or placed in the bowl, and whereln the amount of thepowdered material delivered to the bowl may be adjustably determinedaccording to the bulk or body of the-water which is placed in the bowlso that mixtures of different quantities of material may be quickly andeasily dispensed from the cabinet and to take care of the differentsizes and characters of the work to be done with the llllx.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing cabinet ofthis character wherein a plurality of hoppers or receptacles and theiraccompanying ad ustable dispensing mechanism may be mounted inrelatively compact form. and wherein access may be easily and readilyhad to each individual dlspenser, and wherein the cabinet may beconstructed not only for housing the above nstrumentalities, but alsofor accommodating various accessories which are used about the dentallaboratory, such as impression holders, bottles, scrapers, knives,portable receptacles and the like.

The invention still further aims at the provls on of means for holding amixing bowl in correct position for receiving the powder substance fromthe dispensing mechanism, and by means of which the receptacle or bowlmay be uickly and easily removed after receiving t e charge of thematerial, the invention also providing a novel means for mlxlng thepowder material and the fluid without removing the bowl from thedistrlbuting device, the mixing feature being incorporated in themeasuring and distributmg or dispensing structure.

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this inventionwill be in part described in, and in part understood from, the followingdetailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same beingillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a dispenser constructed according to the present invention,the doors being open and the device being ready for use.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken through the samesubstantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail enlarged sectional view taken through one of thedispensing mechanisms, showing the adjacent parts, and a mixing bowl inposition to receive the powdered material, the section being takensubstantially on the line 33 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a similar View taken at right angles to Figure 3, andsubstantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Fi ure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantlally on the line 66 of aFigure 4: through the bowl holding device, showing the device open readyto receive a bowl, and

Figure 6 is a similar view takenon the line 66 of Figure 4 and showing abowl in position.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 and 2 inparticular, the dispenser of this invention is mounted in multiple in aa cabinet 10 which is provided with an enclosing back wall 11, while thefront of the cabinet 10 is closed by a pair of doors 12. A

horizontal partition 13 is disposed intermediate the top and bottomportions of the cabinet 10 and extends forwardly from the rear Wall 11.A vertical partition 14 extends from side to side of the cabinet, andfrom the horizontal partition 13 to the top of the cabinet. The verticalpartition 14 is located in spaced relation to the back wall 11 so as toprovide a storage space between the back Wall of the partition. Thestorage space is divided into a number of bins or compartments bytransverse partitions 15 which may be in any desired number, three beingshown in the present instance, to provide separate bins or hoppers forsegregating different materials which may be stored in the cabinet. Thetop of the cabinet 10 may be provided with a lid or closure 16 for eachbin or compartment so that the granular or powdered substance may bepoured downwardly through the top of the cabinet into the selected binor hopper.

Vhile the cabinet may be given any desired configuration and size, andmay be made to accommodate any desired number of compartments or bins,the present cabinet is shown as provided with four compartments or binsand a separate adjustable dispensing mechanism in connection With eachone.

In the bottom of each bin there is disposed a hopper 17 which may be ofany suitable construction and provided with inner downwardly convergingside walls adapted to direct the material in aconcentrated streamthrough an opening 18 in the horizontal partition 13. Beneath thepartition 13, and in line with the opening 18 therethrough, is disposeda dispensing housing 19, best shown in Figures 3 and 4, and which may bean integral casting, or may be made in any other suit able manner foreconomical production and assemblage. The housing 19 is rovided at itsupper end with an upwardly aring ope'n-' ing 20 which opens at its lowerend into the upper side of a cylindrical opening or cavity 21 whichextends horizontally through the housing 19. A horizontal shaft 22 isarranged coaxially in the cylindrical opening 21 and extends from frontto back to the housing 19, and has bearing at opposite ends in thehousing. Mounted on the shaft 22, and disposed within the cylindricalopening 21. is an adjustable measuring drum 23v mounted to turn with theshaft 22.

The forward end of the shaft 22 projects beyond the housing 19 and isprovided with a handle 24 by means of which the shaft 22 and the drum 23may be turned, and the handle 24 is provided with a suitable pointer orindex 25 adapted to traverse a scale 26 for determining the correct andproper adjustment of the drum 23.

The drum 23 is provided, in its periphery and at opposite sides, withcavities 27 which are proportioned in size to receive quantities ofmaterial from the bin or hopper propor tional to the respective indiceson the scale 26. The cavities 27 and the indices of the scale 26 may beof course changed as to their specifically disclosed designations, andalso as to their relation one to the other as may be required in the useof different materials.

The housing 19 is provided, beneath the drum 23, with a dischargeshutter or gate 28 mounted on a horizontal shaft 29 which extendsthrough the housing 19 and is adapted to be lowered into open position.as shown in Figure 4 in dotted lines, by a handle 30 carried upon theforward end of the shaft 29 and preferably located adjacent to and belowthe handle 24. The shutter or gate 28 is normally held in closedposition, as shown in full lines in Figure 4, by spring 31.

The lower end portion of the housing 19 is hollow and is provided nearits lower end with a transverse web 32 which provides a support for avertically and axially disposed shaft 33 which extends below the lowerend of the housing 19 and is provided upon its lower end with a suitablechuck 34. The chuck 34 is adapted to detachably carry a paddle, spatulaor other suitable implement for mixing upon its lower end, as shown at35.

The upper end of the shaft 33 terminates in a cavity in the web 32, andis connected to a forwardly and horizontally extending shaft 36 which isconnected to the shaft 33 by pinions 37, and which is provided with ahandle 38 upon its forward end at the front of the housing 19. 1

The lower end of the housing 19 1s preferably closed by a screen 39 uponwhich the powdered material from the drum 23 is adapted to drop, the web32 being provided witha hood 40 which closes the cavity in the web 32and deflects the material 1 from the web and from the pinions 37. Inorder to insure the even distribution of the powdered material which isdispensed from the cabinet, the shaft 33 is provided with a brush orspreader 41 disposed above the screen 39 and adapted to spread thematerial evenly over the screen 39 and insure the passage of thematerial through the screen.

The material dispensed is adapted to be delivered in the selectedquantities into a bowl or receptacle 42, and means is provided fordetachably holding the bowl 42 in suitably spaced relation beneath thescreen 39 and in such manner that the material cannot readily be spilledor lost in its passage through the mechanism. The supporting devicecom-" prises a ring shaped socket 43 into which may be passed upwardlythe outwardly flaring flange 44 on the upper edge of the bowl 42, anormally contracting retaining wire 45 being mounted in the ring 43 andadapted to engage beneath the flange 44 to support the bowl 42 in raisedposition.

The ring 43 is provided at its upper end with a collar portion 46adapted to be secured about the lower end of the housing 19 forsupporting the ring 43. It will be noted that the spatula 35 is ofsuitable size and configuration to fit in the bowl 42, in close relationto the bottom thereof so as to impart the desired mixing or action ofthe spatula against the material which is deposited in the bowl.The-bowl 42 is preferably made of flexible rubber and may be provided atone or more sides on its inner wall with graduation marks 47 which areproportioned with the indicia of the scale 26 and the sizes of thecavities 27 so that liquid, such as water, to the desired amounts may beplaced in the bowl 42 and the corresponding adjustment made of thedispensing mechanism so as to deliver the right amount of the powderedsubstance to the bowl and insure a uniform plastic mass of the desiredworking consistency.

If the graduations 47 are not placed on the bowl 42, then the definiteproportions of the liquid in thebowl-may be measured from a separatevessel, or by any other suitable means or method.

Having thus described the invention, it is thought that its manner ofuse and operation will be apparent. If it is desired to make a mix ofwater and one of the ingredients, such as dental plaster, the bowl 42 isdisengaged from its holder and is filled with water or other suitablefluid to the desired height, as indicated by the graduations 47.

If a relatively large mix is desired, the bowl 42 is filled to thegraduation 8. The bowl 42 is now moved upwardly about the spatula 35 andis engaged with the supporting ring 43. The handle 24 is now turned soas to dispose the pointer 25 opposite the number 8 of the scale 26. Thisadjustment brings the cavity 27 of the drum 23 which is marked 8 inFigure 4, and which corresponds in size to the desired amount ofmaterial to be used, into line with the lower end of the bin and inregis ter with the opening 20 of the housing 19, the opening 18 of thehorizontal partition 13, and the hopper bottom 17 so that the materialis permitted to fall into the cavity 27 which is designated as 8 andfill the cavity.

It is now necessary to turn the handle 24 slowly in either direction soas to make a half turn of the drum 23, so that the cavity 8 is broughtto the bottom immediately above the gate 28. This disposes the handle 24in a raised position and substantially in line with the number 8 of thescale 26.

W'hen the handle is thus raised it is permitted to rest in this positionand the operator now depresses or swings the handle so as to open thegate 28 and permlt the material from the cavity 8 to fall into the lowerend of the housing 19 and uponthe screen 39. After the handle 30 is helddown for a short period of time, it is released and the spring 31returns the gate to closed position so that during the subsequentturning of the drum 23 the contents of the various cavities will not bedischarged through the housin 19.

In order to insure the proper discharge of the material through thebottom of the housing 19 and to spread the material evenly in the bowl42 the handle 38 is now turned so that the brush or wiper 41 spreads thematerial over the screen 39 and forces the material downwardly throughthe screen and spreads the material sufficiently over the screen tocause it to fall substantially uniformly into the bowl 42. As the handle38 is rotated the spatula is also rotated so that the material isthoroughly intermixed with the fluid contained in the bowl and a pasteof the desired consistency is thus provided.

It is readily seen that there is no spilling or loss of the material,and the correct proportions of the liquid and the granular substances isalways had for mixes of the desired size. It will be noted that theattaching flange 46 and the ring 43 are integral, and they may be formedfrom a single piece of sheet metal so that there is a continuousenclosing wall between the supporting ring 43 and the lower end of thehousing. 19 to keep the material from spilling out of the bowl 42 duringthe stirring action and also during the feeding of the materialdownwardly into the bowl.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vertical partition 14 which forms thefront wall of the bins orhoppers is spaced inwardly from the doors 12and is utilized for accommodatin a number of hooks 48 suitably spacedapart for accommodating impression holders 49, trays, or otheraccessories which are used about the laboratory.

The forward portion of the horizontal partition 13 extends beyond thepartition 14 and towards the doors 12 and provides a shelf upon whichmay be accommodated various articles, such as bottles, receptacles,scrapers and the like as shown at 50. A rack 51 may be mounted on thefront side ofthe partition lit positioning of the bowls in the cabinetand beneath the dispensing mechanism.

It is of course understood that various changes and modifications may bemade in the details of construction and design of the above specificallydescribed embodiment of this invention without departing from the spiritthereof. such changes and modifications being restricted only by thescope of the following claims.

\Vbat is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser, a bin for granular material, a receptacle for liquid.a quantity segreating member beneath the bin, a gate beneath saidmember. adjusting means for said member, said adjusting means and saidreceptacle having cooperating scales thereon for definitely determiningproportionate quantities of liquid and granular material. and means foroperating said gate for releasing the selected amount of material intothe receptacle.

2. In a dispenser. a bin for granular material, a receptacle for liquid.a drum mounted beneath the bin and provided with cavities thereinvarying in size adapted to receive different quantities of material fromthe bin, turning means for the drum. said receptacle having a scale ofgraduations thereon for determining the amount of liquid in thereceptaele and said turning means having a scale arranged according tothe. sizes of the cavities in the drum, said scale and said graduationsbearing a definite relation to each other for proportioning the correctamounts of liquid and granular substances to the mix in the receptacle.and gate. means for delivering the selected amount of granular materialto the receptacle after the turning means has been set.

3. In a dispenser, a bin for granular material, means for supporting areceptacle beneath the bin, adjustable means for selecting a desiredamount of material from the bin, means for determining said amount ofgranular material from the bin proportionately to the amount of liquidin the receptacle, and means for spreading the granular material as itis delivered to said receptacle.

4. A dispenser comprising abin for granular material, a housing arrangedbeneath the bin, a measuring drum disposed in the housing and havingcavities of difi'erent sizes for the reception of the granular materialfrom the bin, adjusting means connected to the drum for turning the sameinto definite positions for taking on desired quantities of materialfrom the bin, said adjusting means having a scale for determining theadjustment of the drum, a gate mounted in the housing beneath the drum.a handle connected to the gate for operating the latter to discharge theselected quantity of material from the drum. spreading means arranged inthe bottom of the housing for spreading the re- ,leased material, andmeans for supporting a receptacle beneath the housing to receive thematerial therefrom.

5. In a dispenser, abin adapted to receive granular material, a housingmounted beneath the bin, a drum mounted for rotation in the housing andhaving cavities therein of diilerent sizes. a handle for operating thedrum, and indicating means associated with the handle and the housingfor determining the adjustment of the drum for measuring oil desiredquantities of the material.

(3. In a dispenser, abin adapted to receive granular material, ameasuring drum mounted beneath the bin, means for turning the drum tomeasure off selected quantities of the material from the bin, releasingmeans dis posed beneath the drum adapted to release the selectedquantity of material from the drum. means for supporting a receptaclebeneath the releasing means, and a combined spreading and mixing devicedisposed between the receptacle and the releasing means for distributingthe released material from the. drum throughout the cross-sectional areaof the receptacle and for mixing the material therein.

7. In a dispenser, a cabinet, a plurality of bins disposed in thecabinet and adapted to receive the granular material. an independenthousing mounted beneath each bin, a measuring drum disposed in eachhousing and having cavities of different sizes adapted to receiveditterent quantities of material from the respective bin, combinedindicating and adjusting means for actuating the drums to adjust thesame for delivering predetermined quantities of the material, and meansupon the lower end of each housing adapted to support a receptacle forreceiving the material from the drum.

8. In a dispenser.- a cabinet, a. plurality of bins mounted in the upperend of the cabinet, adjustable dispensing means disposed beneath eachbin and having a scale thereon determining the adjustment of thedispensing means for delivering predetermined quantities of materialfrom the bin, means for releasing the measured quantities of materialfrom the dispensing means, means for spreading and mixing the releasedmaterial, and means for supporting a receptacle in position to receivethe material and have the material mixed therein.

9. In a dispenser, a bin for granular material, a receptacle forpositioning beneath the bin. means between the'b'in and the receptaclefor dispensing desired amounts of the granular material from the bin tothe receptacle, said receptacle adapted to contain a predeterminedamount of liquid: and means for mixing the granular substance and theliquid together in said receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MAURICE o. EMHOFF.

